Battle of Three Cocks – first steps in VBCW

Being in Pembrokeshire on holiday, I contacted the local group South Pembrokeshire Wargames Association. I’d seen reports of some of their VBCW games which looked great. They were organised by Mark Davies, who, by coincidence, was due to attend the Big Hereford Battle. Unfortunately, at fairly short notice, Mark was unable to attend but, turning adversity to advantage, he devised a game to be played at the Pembrokeshire club which told the story of why he (as the Bishop of St David’s) was not able to get his force to the battle. It also allowed us to try the Went The Day Well rules that were to be used at the big game.

The photo shows the table Mark prepared and it represents the area of Three Cocks on the Welsh/English border near Hay-on-Wye. This is on the route the Bishop would have marched to reach Herefordshire. The scenario Mark devised was that the Royalists had learned very early of the Bishop’s proposed march and been able to throw a platoon acroos his path at Three Cocks. This platoon was intended to delay the march of the Bishop until reinforcements arrived to complete his downfall. I was given command of the ambushing BUF platoon.

A full report of the battle by Mark, with lots of nice photos, can be seen here My own part in the game consisted of destroying the Royalist armoured car and a detail of cavalry.

The photo shows the destruction of the amoured car by my heroic anti-tank rifle crew, supported by a heavy machine gun.

My successes, although quite minor, did the job in delaying the Bishop’s march long enough for the reinforcements to arrive so, job done. More importantly, it was a cracking game, a good introduction to the rules and a result which provided a plausible reason as to why the Bishop’s men didn’t reach the Hereford battle field.

So, having now sampled the pleasure of a VBCW game, I looked forward eagerly to The Bridge Over the River Wye…..